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The government has formed a conciliatory committee to broker a truce between the Kenya Airways management and pilots who had called for a strike over poor working conditions.

Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore and Principal Secretary (PS) Peter Tum told lawmakers that the committee comprises representatives from the ministries of labour, transport and National Treasury, as well as Kenya Airways Management and Kenya Airlines Pilot Association (KALPA).

New deal abounds

The group is meant to address issues raised by the pilots in a bid to come up with a new agreement.

While appearing before the committee on labour chaired by Runyenjes MP Muchangi Kiremba, the duo also said that once the committee is formed, they will come up with another multi-agency team to carry out a forensic audit on the operations and performance of the airline.

The decision to carry out the audit follows a meeting between the ministry, the KQ management and KALPA.

Among the issues to be reviewed includes the failure by the airline to remit statutory deductions of the employees.

“I am happy that the pilots have agreed to go back to work so that we can sit down and discuss the progress we have made so far. We have agreed to form a conciliatory committee so that we can solve these issues once and for all.”

Tum added: “We have also agreed to carry out a forensic audit of the entire organisation.” The decision of the court came after the national carrier filed contempt charges against the striking pilots who had boycotted work since Saturday.

Labour Court judge Anne Mwaure ordered the pilots to resume work unconditionally on Wednesday at 6 am.

The judge also told KQ management to allow the pilots to perform their duties without harassing, intimidating or taking any disciplinary action against them pending the determination of the suit. The committee will meet the management of KQ and the pilots and seek their side of the story.